Seattle Public Utilities

Waste Diversion Report

Electronic WDR Form submission with email confirmation
Check the records for accuracy before submitting. Once the report is submitted, it cannot be retrieved for editing. A confirmation email will be sent to you indicating that the report for your project has been received with a summary of the report details. If you have any questions, please send them to WasteDiversionReport@seattle.gov or contact Gabriella Uhlar-Heffner at (206) 386-9772.

You should not submit the Salvage Assessment required by the Seattle Department of Construction & Inspection (SDCI) as part of your building permit application to the email address listed above. The Salvage Assessment should be submitted directly to SDCI_Plans_Routing@seattle.gov.

Manual WDR Form submission
You must print out this form and fill in the tables manually. It can then be scanned and emailed to WasteDiversionReport@seattle.gov or mailed to the address given on the form. The manual form has lists to assist you with material types, diversion methods, units of measure, hauling companies and receiving facilities.

What is the Waste Diversion Report?

The Waste Diversion Report (WDR) identifies where project construction and demolition materials were delivered for reuse (on-site), salvage (off-site), recycling and landfill disposal. The report is required of all demolition projects and all new construction and remodeling projects that are $30,000 in value or more that received a Seattle Department of Construction & Inspection (SDCI) Building Permit after January 1, 2014. It must be submitted within 60 days of a project’s Final Inspection Approval date.

Seattle Municipal Code 21.36.089 directs Seattle Public Utilities (SPU) to set up a process for the submission of construction waste diversion reports. This is detailed in SPU Director’s Rule SW-405.2 Rev 1(pdf).

You will then be asked about what happened to construction waste materials. You will need to have access to the weight slips or receipts from receiving reuse, recycling or disposal facilities used by you or your contractors during the project. The WDR form questions pertain to:

Descriptions of the materials. Select from a list of report choices for Material Types or type a description.

Quantities of material. Enter tons, pounds, cubic yards or # of items for salvage or reuse on site

If the load was hauled by your company (self-haul) or by a third-party hauler.

The names of third-party hauling companies if used.

The names of receiving facilities for reuse, recycling and disposal.

How long do weight tickets need to be kept?

Weight tickets need to be kept for at least a month after submittal of a project waste diversion report. Photographs of reuse activities for materials reused on the construction site are acceptable forms of documentation.

What is the audit process for submittals?

SPU may randomly audit the Waste Diversion Reports to see if they are:

Submitted within the allowable time period post final inspection approval

If they are complete

If construction materials were delivered to qualified receiving and recycling facilities in compliance with the city’s disposal bans and other criteria

Audits may take place within 30 business days of their submittal or in the case of non-submittals within 30 business days of when a report should have been submitted.

Penalties for not submitting a waste diversion report

In 2015, a civil fine of $250 plus statuary assessments may be applied if a waste diversion report is not submitted.